Electric device for rolling sheet calendars



April 9, 1957 1' HOUSKA ET AL 2,788,180

ELECTRIC DEVICE ROLLING SHEET CALENDARS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 4, 1954 A Bnnentors LAWRENCE HOUSKA ROBERT EUGE NE COLE HENRY JOKEfPH PERL W Gttomeg April 9, 1957 L. HOUSKA ETAL 2,788,180

ELECTBIC DEVICE FOR ROLLING SHEET CALENDARS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 4. 1954 Jubentors LAWRE NCE HOUSKA {ROBERT EUGENE COLE HENRY LJQSjH PERL a Gttorneg ELECTRIC DEVICE FOR ROLLING SHEET CALENDARS 'Filed March 4, 1954 r L. HO-USKA Erm.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5' FIG. 7

E INVENTDRS LAWRENCE HOUSKA ROBERT EUGENE COLE HENRY JOSEPH PERL wfid ATTORNEY ELEQTRHI HEVIQE FGR ROLLING SHEET CALENDARS Application March 4, 1954, Serial No. 414,132

6 Claims. ((1242-55) Our invention relates to an improvement in an electric device for rolling sheet material, and more particularly to a device for rolling sheet material such as calendars, onto a mandrel into a firmly wound tube-like formation for removal therefrom and easy insertion into a mailing tube. To effectively and economically roll and wind sheet material, a quick starting and stopping of the mandrel necessary.

it is an object of our invention to provide a device having a slotted, elongated mandrel on which sheet material is rolled up, together with means for quickly starting and stopping the mandrel.

It is iurther object to provide a series electric motor connected to a rotating member having a mandrel attached thereto. lt was found that a series motor enables any sized calendar to be wound without adjusting the speed of the machine, and the inherent characteristic of a series wound motor is to exert onlyenough torque at the start to smoothly begin rotation.

it is also an object to provide a positioning assembly for stopping the mandrel in ready position at .the end of each cycle of operation. The positioning assembly includes a rotatable engageable member provided with a stop lug mounted on a shaft to which .is also connected the slotted mandrel. The positioning assembly .also in cludes a spring urged pivoted pawl member for .engaging the stop lug and an elcctro-magnet for disengaging the pawl member from the lug, togetherwithamicroswitch actuated by the pivoted pawl member whichcuts off power to the motor when the mandrel approaches the ready (stopped) position.

It is an additonal object to provide a motor which is dynamically braked to provide quick, sure braking action and also prevent hammering and distortion of {the stop lug. it is a further object to provide a control circuit of a nature whereby the mandrel is brought into a ready (stopped) position, at a very low speed, [for the operator to slip the next piece of sheet material into the slot in the mandrel.

it is an additional object to provide a series motor to wind the sheet material onto the mandrel ,so that when the foot switch is released, the motor then acts a s a generator, and due to the kinetic energy of the revolvlug armature, the electricity thus generated .is fed into aresistor bani: which causes thesriotor toact as brake and stop almost instantaneously ,after the foot witch is turned ofi.

it is also an object to provide an.electric circuit,whereby an alternate path is established ,to obtains suitable limited current through the seriestield of the motonso that when the foot switch is released afield x;i s supplied for dynamic braking. Art thesarne time the above alternate path is established, .a local armature .circuit through a set of normally.closedicontacts on the. main magnetic switch andasuitable resistor-I is.establishedfor absorbing :the power generated in .-.the armature of th c motor to obtain dynamic braking.

stem '6 2,788 Patented Apr. 9, 1 957 As an additional object we provide a device for rolling sheet material whereby the armature oi the motor is completely de-energized from .an external source, but due to magnetic induction, the voltage generated by the revolving armature is dissipated into a dynamic braking resistor, thus stopping the motor practically instantaneously.

it is a further object to provide a circuit for driving the motor at a low speed to automatically bring the mandrel to a ready (stopped position). To accomplish this we. provide a dynamic braking release, the operation of which is governed by the speed of the armature during the dynamic braking period to actuate another relay. When themotor armature reaches a certain speed upon deceleration due to dynamic braking, a suitable set of contacts are actuated on the dynamic braking relay. in connection with the contacts on the dynamic braking relay, othersuitable contacts loccated in the foot switch and contacts located in the positioning assembly establish a circuit through the current of the position relay. With the coil of the positioning relay energized, a circult is established through contacts provided and resistors to obtain the slow speed of the motor for positioning the mandrel.

it is a further object to provide a rotatable member which may be circular in formation, the outer periphery of which has a recess portion forming a shoulder which .is made by a progressively reduced radii of the rotatable member, the progressively reduced recess portion being lathe form of the ramp leading to the stop lug secured to the rotatable member on which the pivoted pawl rides.

Onrelectricallyoperated sheet calendar winding means is particularly adapted for rolling calendars which have been tinned on the ends. The mandrel of the device is formed with a slot which receives the tinned end of the calendar which aidsiin holding the end of the calendar on the start of therolling operation. Further, the lon- ,gitudinally slotted mandrel permits the tinned end of the calendar to be easily removed when the calendar has been completely rolled.

A further feature of the invention resides in providing a complete electrically operated means for rolling sheet calendars into a small, relatively compact roll for insertion into ,a mailing tube. With our electrically .op- .erated machine the operator can set the end of the calendar into the mandrel by hand, and with a foot operated switch, the machine is started and stopped in operation leaving the hands of the operator free to attach the calendar to the mandrel and to remove the same completely wound and also insert the Wound calendar into-the mailing tube in the wound state.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following ,detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing by way of example ,a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout.

ln the drawings forming partof this application:

Figure Lisa top plan view ofthe sheet-rolling device showing a portion ,of a calendar sheet in position for rolling onto the mandrel.

Figurel is .a front .fa ce view of the rotating member removed vfrom the operating shaft with the stop lug mounted thereon.

F igure 3 is aperspective detailed enlarged view of the endpof the inandrelhwitha portion of a calendar sheet o rs slzts th ear- Figured isa sideview of the device with the rotating member andmandi el removed.

Pigi ire j'is" 'aprspectiieyiew of thcconnbined pivoted pawl or stop lug and actuator bar removed from the device.

Figure 6 is an end view of our device.

Figure 7 is a schematic wiring diagram for our device.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a portion of a mailing tube showing the insertion of a calendar rolled on our machine into the same. I

Figure 9 is a schematic wiring diagram of an alternative armature control circuit.

Referring to the drawings in detail, our device includes the series wound electric motor A which is mounted on the platform 10. The platform 10 is pivotally mounted on the base 11 by means of a bolt mounted centrally thereof (not shown in the drawings), so that the unit may be swung out of the way. The platform 10 is locked and secured in position for operation on the base 11, as shown in Figure l, by means of the removable positioning pin 12 which extends through the platform 10 and is positioned in a hole formed in the base 11. The base 11 is mounted on the supports 11. Secured to the shaft 23 of the motor A is the rotatable member 14 which has secured on the outer periphery thereof the replaceable stop lug 15. The lug 15 is secured in a recess formed on the rotatable member with the lug extending slightly therefrom, thereby providing the protruding shoulder portion 16, which engages the pawl member hereinafter described.

The rotatable member 14 has secured thereto the elongated, tubular mandrel 17 by means of a collet chuck which is tightened by means of the large nut 18. The mandrel 17 has formed in the wall thereof the longitudinally extending slot 19 which is adapted to receive the tinned reinforcing end 20 of the calendar sheet material B to be wound. In the mechanism illustrated the mandrel 17 rotates in a clockwise direction with the operator standing on the left of and facing the motor A looking at Figure 6.

We further provide the pivoted pawl or interrupter member 20 which includes the upstanding portion 21 on which is secured the replaceable end member 22 adapted to bear against the peripheral surface of the rotatable member 14. Extending from and at right angles to the upstanding portion 21 is the extension arm 23. Formed on the lower end of the portion 21 is the bearing portion 24 which has formed therethrough the hole 25 adapted to receive the pin 26 on which the pawl member 20' pivots, whereby the end member 22 may be pivoted into or out of engagement with the stop lug 15.

The rotatable member 14 may be circular in formation, as shown, and is formed with the recessed portion 14, the surface of which is made by a progressively reduced radii of the member 14. The progressively reduced recessed portion 14 is in the form of a ramp leading to the lug 15, and as the end member 22 proceeds the length of the portion 14 toward the stop lug 15, the arm 23 begins to rise due to the pivoting of the member 21 on the pin 26, thereby moving the arm 32 upwardly and actuating the microswitch C, hereinafter described, the arm 32 being pivoted at the point 32'. The pin 26 is mounted on the upstanding support members 27 formed on the right angular base member 28. Secured to the base member 28 is the bracket 29 on which is secured the cap member 30. Mounted within the cap member 30 is the microswitch illustrated as C in broken lines in Figure 6, and which is actuated by the pivoted bar 32 as set forth. The bar 32 has an inverted U-shaped member 33 secured to the outer free end thereof, on which is mounted the small wheel 34 to facilitate movement of the bar 32.

The wheel 34 rests on the outer end of the extension arm 23. The switch C is normally in an open position as in Figure 6, and when the solenoid D is energized, the extension bar 23 is drawn downwardly against the action of the spring 36 mounted on the vertical positioning rod 37. As the extension arm 23 is drawn downwardly, the

bar 32 and the wheel 34 move downwardly and close the contacts of the microswitch C.

We further provide the box E which houses substarb tially all of the members forming the circuits shown in Figure 7 except the solenoid D, the microswitch C, the motor A, and the foot switch F. The foot switch F is connected to the box E through the retainer bushing 38 by means of the flexible line 3?, and the flexible supply line 40 is run into the box E at the retainer 325, which line may be connected to the electric power wall plug outlet 41.

To operate our device the operator turns the convenient toggle switch G to the on position which makes available the electric power for running the device. The operator then inserts the tinned end 20 of the sheet B into the slot 19 of the mandrel 17. At this point the pawl end member 22 is held in engagement with the lug 15 by the action of the spring 36 upwardly against the extension member 23, and in this position the slot 19 of the mandrel 17 is substantially facing the operator as shown in Figures 1 and 6. Also, at this point the contacts of the microswitch C are open.

The operator now depresses the foot switch F which opens contacts N (Figure 7) and closes contacts F thereof. Contacts F establish a circuit from 4-0 through contacts F and through coil X to line dd". The magnetic action of coil X closes switches H and opens switches H and H", thereby energizing the solenoid D, field coil A and armature A. With the solenoid coil D energized, the pivoted pawl 20 is disengaged from the lug '15 by the magnetic force of the coil D acting on the extension arm 23, drawing it downwardly. With the pawl 20' disengaged from the wheel lug 15, the motor A is free to rotate the mandrel 17 which winds up the sheet material B positioned thereon virtually instantaneously due to the quick pickup speed of the motor A.

When the motor A reaches a certain predetermined speed, the voltage generated across the armature A of the motor energizes the coil I, thus closing the switch I, which sets up an alternate path through the resistor L for applying reduced current through the series field of the motor A, so that when the operator releases the foot switch F, the reduced current is immediately available across the motor for supplying a field force for dynamic braking. At the same time switch I is opened.

With the sheet material B substantially wound onto the mandrel 17, the operator then releases the foot switch F, which opens contacts F and thereby de-energizes the coil X and opens the running switches H and closes the switch H, thus cutting off the line voltage across the motor and supplying the reduced current mentioned above through the series field of the motor A. The path of the current is from line 40' through resistor L, through switch J, through coil D, field coil A, through switch H to line 40". The armature A" of the motor A is completely de-energized from an external source, but due to magnetic induction, the voltage generated by the revolving armature A" is dissipated into the dynamic braking resistor M, through the circuit established by switch H", thus stopping the motor A practically instantaneously. With the armature A stopped, the coil I is de-energized, thus opening switch I and closing switch J previously mentioned. At this point the operator removes the wound sheet B from the mandrel although the lug 15 may be approaching the end member 22 or it may be against the member 22.

If the lug member 15 has not come up to the member 22, then with the contacts I opened, the solenoid D and the series field coil A of the motor are de-energized. Also, with the solenoid D de-energized, the extension arm 23 of the pawl member 20 is urged upwardly due to the action of the spring 36. At the same time a circuit is established from line 40' through contacts N in the foot switch F, through the contacts of microswitch C,

throughswitch I, through coil Oto line -43. With coil O energized, the switch 1 opens, and the switches P and P" are closed. Switch P now energizes the coil X which again closes switches H and opens H and H. With the coils X and O energized, another circuit from line 40' through resistors L and Q, through switch P" through motor A, and switch H to line it)" is established.

Through the use of the resistors L and Q, a weakened current condition is created in the motor A supplying only sufficient torque to move the lug 15 into engagement with the end member 22. As the end member 22 enters upon the .ramp or recess 14, there is a greater pivot action possible of the end 22, and the extension arm 23 thereby moves upwardly. As a further result, the arm 32 is moved upwardly, and the contacts of the microswitch C are opened, thereby cutting elf all power. The contacts of the switch C are adjusted to open when the end member 22 is approximately at the point 42 on the rotatable member .14. When the solenoidD has been dc-energized, the spring 36 exerts enough pressure against the arm 23 .to further urge the end 22 against the outer peripheral surface of the member 14 to create a drag or mechanical brakingraction. As the end member 22 moves from the power cut-off point 42 to the shoulder 16, the drag of the end 22 against the surface of the ram 14 aids in bringing the member 14 to a gentle stop with the end ;member 22 against the shoulder 16. With the end member 22 against the shoulder 16 of the lug 15, the slot 19 of the mandrel 17 is again in the proper position for receivingthe tinnediend 26) of the sheet B.

In the position of the device last described, the woundup calendar sheet material B may be quickly slipped oif the mandrel 17 and inserted into the mailing tube T.

it will be seen that we have provided means of winding sheets or sheet calendars in a rapid manner so that they can be quicklyinserted in a mailingtube while they are wound small enough to bereceived by the mailing tube. It is important that the winding motor A have a fast starting action picloup which is started by the touch of the operators foot to the switch P. It is equally important that the motor A slow down to an absolute stop in such a manner as not to pound and distort the shoulder 15 or the operating end 22 as the motor comes to a stop. This provides long life for the element 15 and the end 22. Furthermore, our calendar winding apparatus speeds up the efiiciency of the operator in winding the cal ndar B so that they can be quickly inserted in the mailing tubes T. The apparatus is compact and may be mounted upon any suitable operating bench for the operator so as to give free access to the winding mandrel 17. In operating our apparatus we take advantage of the quick speed of the motor as well as the dynamic braking thereof. Our unit is self-contained and, if desired, may be portable and moved to any suitable operating bench. The circuits for operating the motor are confined within the box E, with the exception of the foot switch F, the microswitch C, and solenoid D, the power connection and the source of electrical energy.

In Figure 9 is a schematic wiring diagram of a further form of the armature control circuit. With this further form of control circuit we provide an adjustable resistor unit M into which the switch H is tapped. An adjusting tap M is provided for the purpose of selecting the amount of resistance shunting the armature of the motor A. The resistor M provides another path for the current which normally would pass through the armature A" which has the effect of limiting the voltage across the armature with the result that the speed of armature is definitely limited according to the setting of the adjusting tap M". Switch H" functions in the same manner as heretofore set forth. With this circuit the top speed of the motor is limited and fixed which tends to reduce the hammering or deforming of the end member 22 by the lug 15.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device for rolling sheet material into tube-like formation, a portable base member, an electric motor having a fiywheel secured thereto and mounted on said base, means for starting and stopping said motor, a mandrel connected to said flywheel having sheet engaging means thereon, a stop lug formed on said flywheel, a pawl member pivotally mounted on said base member engage able with said stop lug and having an arm extending therefrom, a solenoid mounted adjacent said extension arm for drawing said arm in a downward direction to disengage said pawl from said lug when said solenoid is energized, spring means for urging said extension arm in an upward direction to maintain saidpawl in engagement with said step lug, means for energizing said solenoid to release said pawl from said lug, switch means operable by said extension arm for cutting off the electrical power to said motor, alternate circuit and resistor bank means for reducing the voltage across the motor series field winding and absorbing the electricity generated by the armature of said motor when the same is turned off, means for cutting ofi the line voltage across the motor and supplying the-reduced voltage across the series field of the motor, and circuit means for further reducing the voltage across the motor series field winding to produce only sufficient torque to urge said step lug toward and against said pawl prior to the energizing of said solenoid for releasing said pawl.

2. In an electrical device for rolling sheet material into tube-like formation, a base support, electric power means, means for starting and stopping said power means, a rotatable mandrel having sheet engaging means and connected to said power means, stop lug means connected to-said mandrel, interrupter means pivotally mounted on said base engageable with said stop lug means, electromagnetic means for actuating said interrupter means to engage or disengage said stop lug means, spring means for urging said interrupter means in engagement with said stop lug means, alternate circuit and resistor bank means for reducing the voltage across the motor series field winding and absorbing the electricity generated by the armature of said electric power means when said power is shut ofi, means for cutting ofif the line voltage across the motor and supplying the reduced voltage across the series field of the power means, and circuit means for further reducing the voltage across the series field winding of the power means to produce only sufiicient torque to urge said stop lug means toward and against said interrupter means prior to the energizing of said electromag netic means for releasing said interrupter means.

3. In a device for rolling sheet material into tube-like formation, a base member, an electric motor mounted on said base member, means for starting and stopping said motor, a mandrel connected to the shaft of said motor, said mandrel having sheet engaging means, a stop lug connected to said mandrel, a pawl member pivotally mounted on said base member for engagement with said stop lug, means for maintaining said pawl in engagement with said stop lug, electromagnetic means adjacent said pivoted pawl member for disengaging said pawl from said stop lug, alternate circuit and resistor bank means for reducing the voltage across the motor series field winding and absorbing the electricity generated by the armature of said motor when said motor is turned oli', means for cutting off the line voltage across the motor and supply ing the reduced voltage across the series field. ol' the motor, and circuit means for further reducing the voltage across the motor series field winding to produce only suflicient torque to urge said stop lug against said pawl prior to the energizing or. said electromagnetic means for releasing said pawl.

4. in a device for rolling sheet material into tube-lii-e formation, a base member, an electric motor having a rotatable member connected thereto and mounted on said base, means for turning off and on a source of power for said motor, a mandrel connected to said rotatable mem her and having sheet engaging means thereon, lug means formed on said rotatable member, an interrupter member pivotally mounted on said base member and engageable with said lug means, said interrupter member having an extension arm thereon, a solenoid for drawing said extension arm in a downward direction to disengage said interrupter member from said lug means, a micro-switch actuated by said extension arm having means to turn off said electric motor, spring means for urging said extension arm in an upward direction to maintain said interrupter member in engagement with said lug means, circuit means for energizing said solenoid to release said interrupter from said lug means, circuit and resistor means for supplying a reduced current to be applied across said motor for dynamic braking, circuit means for cutting ofi the line voltage across the motor and supplying said reduced current through the series field of the motor, and resistor means for dissipating said reduced current to stop said motor practically instantaneously and spring means for urging said interrupter member against said lug means.

5. In an electrical device for rolling sheet calendars, a base member, an electric motor mounted on said base having lug means projecting from the shaft of the motor, sheet engaging means formed on said lug means, switch and circuit means for starting and stopping said motor, a solenoid, a pawl member pivotally mounted on said base adjacent said solenoid and operable thereby into and out of engagement with said lug means, circuit means for energizing said solenoid simultaneously with the starting of said motor to reiease said pawl from said lug means and allow the same to rotate, circuit resistor means for creating reduced current for the series field of the motor, circuit means for applying said reduced current through the series field of said motor to brake the same, second circuit resistor means for dissipating the voltage created by the armature of said motor to stop said motor, spring means for urging said pawl member toward said lug means, circuit means actuated by said pawl member, resistor means actuated by said circuit means to produce a weakened current condition in said motor with only sulficient torque to urge said lug means against said pawl member, and a microswitch actuated by said pawl for cutting off all power to said motor.

6. An electrical device for rolling sheet calendars, comprising an electric motor, means for starting and stopping said motor, a sheet receiving mandrel connected to said motor, lug means connected to said mandrel, pivoted pawl means engageable with said lug means, a foot switch, spring means for urging said pawl against said lug means, a solenoid for actuating said pawl means, circuit means for energizing said solenoid, and the field coil and armature of said motor to disengage said pawl means from said lug means and thereby allow said mandrel to rotate, resistor means, coil means energized by the armature of said motor for setting up an alternate path through said resistor means for applying reduced current through the series field of said motor when said foot switch is released to brake said motor, second resistor means for producing a weakened current condition in said motor to produce only sufiicient torque to move said lug means against said pawl means, and switch means actuated by said pawl means for cutting off all power to said motor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,115,586 Schwab Nov. 3, 1914 2,078,380 Guyler et a1 Apr. 27, 1937 2,532,171 Kaim Nov. 28, 1950 2,571,243 Hooker Oct. 16, 1951 2,583,040 Cawley et a1 Jan. 22, 1952 2,622,957 Wise Dec. 23, 1952 

